Integrating electronic and traditional retail

Abstract

A business method utilizes a dedicated electronic shopping network having a database and wireless receiving and transmitting components. The network is provided at a retail-type architectural facility where space is rented to a plurality of independent retail entities. For each respective one retail entity, data pertaining to goods offered for sale by the respective one entity is loaded the database. Queries from hand-held electronic personal shopping devices pertaining to goods offered for sale by the retail entities are received via the wireless receiving components. The wireless transmitting components transmit, to the hand-held electronic personal shopping devices, data from the database responsive to respective queries.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] Various aspects of the invention relate to retail stores, shopping areas, electronic retail commerce, and traditional retailing. [0002] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 542,580 discloses a retail store or a collection of stores and a method of operating a retail store or collection of retail stores within a mall environment. A display stock of goods representative of the goods offered by any given one of the stores is arranged for display to customers that enter the store. For some or most of the offered goods, the given store may have essentially no inventory for immediate possession by customers. A self-serve electronic display terminal is provided at which a customer can choose from among the offered goods, and tender payment for the chosen goods. [0003] Embodiments of the retail method disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 542,580 incorporate one or more of the following features. The display stock may be chosen to cover a representative sample of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a retail method that facilitates the purchase of goods by a consumer from multiple different retailers.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method that facilitates the display of goods at retail locations by retail entities having no access to traditional brick-and-mortar retailing.

[0008] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic personal shopping device (PSD) that facilitates the shopping experience.

[0013] The present invention contemplates a method for facilitating the opening of physical retail “stores” by Internet retailers and catalogue or mail-order companies, as well as by foreign concerns that do not have the wherewithal to establish a brick-and-mortar type facility in this country. To that end, the renting out of space in the facility includes providing a package of support services to the retail entities, the package including services taken from the group consisting of decor or design services, construction services, personnel services, tax and regulatory services, and delivery services. This approach to providing space and services to retailers can greatly enhance the abilities of Internet retailers, catalogue or mail-order companies, foreign concerns, and small retail entities to get samples of their products in the hands of the purchasing public. Typically, the retail locations as contemplated herein do not carry inventory for sale. Instead, only samples are displayed for potential customers to better appreciate the nature and quality of the goods that is possible via a pictorial representation, whether communicated via the Internet or a paper catalogue.

[0024] Alternatively, a customer can start a shopping session using the handheld personal shopping device and finish the shopping session at a kiosk. The customer has the ability to scan all her items for take-home, walk to a printer or a self-checkout kiosk, scan the device and obtain a receipt immediately.

[0028] At the cash register, the sales associate can access a customer's profile, retrieving address book information, as well as various credit cards that the customer may have entered into her profile. This makes it easier for sales associates to place orders for customers at the cash register.

Problems solved by technology

Generally, personal shopping devices may not be used to access the Internet, for example, to download Web pages or transfer email messages.

Instead, the personal shopping devices are blocked from having direct access to the Internet via the dedicated electronic shopping network.

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